Narvasa fines more players, another coach

The MBA Commissioner’s Office cash register kept on ringing as commissioner Ogie Narvasa penalized another coach and three more players for unsportsmanlike conduct.

This time, Narvasa cracked the whip on Socsargen coach Boyzie Zamar and players Patrick Benedicto and Reuben dela Rosa of Negros and Homer Se of Cebuana Lhuillier, assessing the four a total fine of P16,000.

Benedicto was fined P6,000 and suspended for a game for an elbow foul on FedEx Laguna’s Mike Garcia. It was his second offense this season.

Se was fined P4,000 for throwing the ball at a referee while complaining a call, Dela Rosa also P4,000 for punching FedEx Laguna cager Richard Melencio and Zamar P2,000 for a technical foul committed for continuous complaining in the Socsargen-Davao match Wednesday.

On Friday, Narvasa showed a serious effort to curb hooliganism in the league by sanctioning his own technical director Bert Ortiz and Cebuana Lhuillier team manager Greg Yusingco.

Meanwhile, the LBC Batangas Blades play at home for the first time today when they collide with the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in the MBA First Phase at the De La Salle-Lipa Gym.

Negros tries to inch closer toward a top three spot when it battles Nueva Ecija in the 3 p.m. opener at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City.

Beaten by the Gems (96-90) in their first meeting in Cebu, the Blades are raring to exact revenge and boost their bid for a top five spot.

Batangas coach Nash Racela, however, is in a quandary as to whether he’s going to use Fil-Am Stephen Antonio for the 5:30 p.m. game. Antonio missed the Blades’ 111-97 conquest of the Socsargen Marlins on Friday due to back spasm. – Joey Villar